Amazing pictures show how a black dog with vitiligo changes color over the course of 2.5 years, turning him entirely white.
Pale white patches appear on human skin as a result of vitiligo, the ailment that notably afflicted Michael Jackson.

However, as one dog owner can attest, animals are also impacted by the uncommon illness.

Buster is a cute four-year-old puppy from Oklahoma whose vitiligo has caused him to go entirely white.

Pictures shared on Reddit document the dog’s amazing change in color over the course of 2.5 years.

Vitiligo is a disorder that affects both skin and fur and is characterized by the destruction of skin pigment cells in specific body regions.

What is vitiligo?
A condition known as vitiligo causes the skin’s pigment cells in some body parts to die.

Experts believe it to be an autoimmune illness, in which the body’s defensive mechanism unintentionally targets and kills specific bodily cells, even though the precise origin is unknown.

It doesn’t hurt and has no negative effects on health.

[Source: Medicine Net]

Although the cause of vitiligo is unknown, it is thought to arise from disruptions to the cells that create melanin, the pigment responsible for the color of skin and hair.

The owner of Buster, Oklahoma City-based Matt Smith (TallyMatty), shared the pictures on Reddit, and since then, the story has gone global.

“Over the last 2.5 years, my boy Buster (4 years old) has completely changed from black to white,” Matt remarked.

“Buster has vitiligo, a skin condition that causes the skin (and fur) to become depigmented.”

Other Reddit users expressed shock in their replies, and many made analogies to Michael Jackson, the most well-known vitiligo sufferer in history.

Someone wrote: “Whoa! I haven’t seen anything that fascinating on Reddit in a long time.

“Until I scrolled through, I was positive this was going to be a hoax.”

Another person commented, saying, “I never would have believed it if you hadn’t shown the transition.”

One more person just shared, “I’m barking at the dog in the mirror.”

The owner shared a number of photos from when Buster first began his incredible makeover.

Before the white patches began to spread throughout Buster’s face and torso, he had first seen them close to his mouth and chin.

Matt remarked, “He would lose his black fur and grow new white fur.”

“So, until his new, fluffy white fur grew in, there was a period of time when he was balding in certain areas.”

Thankfully, vitiligo in pets is painless, and there is no indication that the dog is in any kind of pain or discomfort.

Furthermore, according to Rover.com, vitiligo affects less than 1% of dogs, making it extremely uncommon.

Certain breeds are more prone than others, such as the German shepherd, Rottweiler, Old English sheepdog, and Dachshund.

Depigmentation can affect a dog’s whole body in certain cases, but it can also just cause patches or spots to show up.

According to Rover.com, vitiligo typically manifests in young adulthood and nearly always begins on the dog’s face.

PetMD states that vitiligo treatments do not now exist that can restore pigmentation to a pet’s vitiligo-affected skin and fur.

It does, however, state that your dog or cat will be perfectly content to live the remainder of their lives with vitiligo because it does not cause any difficulty.

Numerous other owners, including Elli, the cute German cookies-and-cream kitten, have shared their stories of owning dogs with vitiligo.

A another Reddit user, u/BacardiBlue, mentioned that they formerly owned a jet-black cat that had vitiligo.

According to them, “he began turning white at all of his extremities, including the tips of his ears, nose, and tail, and then it spread further.”

“My vet was utterly enthralled with the transformation I witnessed over the seven years I had him.”

In the meantime, Rowdy the black Labrador started to get white spots around his eyes that appear to have been added by owners.

MailOnline has inquired further about Buster’s breed from Mr. Smith and The Kennel Club.

CANINE VITILIGO’S EFFECTS?
Pets with vitiligo, a rare skin disorder, lose their natural pigmentation in their skin and fur.

It usually starts on the face, especially the nose, and progresses to the footpads and other areas of the body before causing painless patches of white skin and hair.

Although the precise origin of vitiligo in pets is unknown, most cases are genetic, with certain breeds being more prone than others.

Breeds such as Rottweilers, Dachshunds, Siberian Huskies, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Belgian Tervuren, Golden Retrievers, Yellow Labradors, Old English Sheepdogs, and German Shorthaired Pointers are among them.

However, an autoimmune disease may be the root cause of the syndrome, leading the immune system to attack melanocytes because it believes they are foreign intruders.

It is recommended that pet owners bring their animal to a veterinarian to see whether an underlying medical ailment is the source of the depigmentation.

Although there are no cures, some veterinarians advise getting more sun exposure to boost melanocyte development.

One in 200 persons in the world are estimated to be affected by the condition, and 50% of those affected have their first symptoms before becoming 20 years old, however it’s unclear why.

But’stressful’ events like childbirth, hormonal fluctuations, or even cuts to the skin can cause it. A genetic component is also present.

Humans cannot be cured either, yet some therapies can stop pigment loss in its tracks if applied early enough.

Petmd.com is the source.